Next week down here in Austin, TX will be the great gathering of the tribes known as South by Southwest (commonly referred in type as SXSW). SXSW is like a huge music festival, on top of a huge music convention, on top of a film festival and industry seminar all wrapped into one. There’s no way to make you appreciate the scope of SXSW in the written word. It consumes an entire US city, from top to bottom, east to west, and is the greatest opportunity all year to see top notch bands in one place.

Not every one can be here, but I will be, and leading up to SXSW, I’ll do my best to get everyone ready for the big shindig, including everyone that cannot attend. As I prepare for it, cover it, and then wrap it up, I’ll try to encapsulate the experience for everyone, and through articles, pictures, videos, audio, and interviews, help you live the experience vicariously through me, and through osmosis hopefully turn you on to some great music. I am going to start by naming off my top 5 MUST SEE artists for anyone attending SXSW who is into roots music.

This is it folks. In 2011, Ruby Jane is the best, most dynamic live performer on the earth planet, and if you’re down here and miss her, that’s grounds for having your music nerd membership revoked. And don’t take my word for it, wherever and whenever Ruby performs, people walk away in shock. That is why she was named the MVP of ACL Fest by The Austin Chronicle, and a Top 5 performer at Folk Alliance by No Depression. I’d recommend seeing her with the full band, but either way, you can’t pass up this opportunity. Since she doesn’t have a major album release yet, this is your only chance to experience the force of nature that is Ruby Jane. Simply put, she is the future of music.

This is another that is a must see in person, because no recorded format will ever do justice to the ridiculous spectacle that is a Possessed by Paul James show. The best way I’ve heard it described is that he doesn’t play songs, he gives birth to songs on stage. I have never seen a man so consumed by the spirit of music when he performs, and that same spellbinding effect is shared with the crowd. “It’s 50/50” as Possessed says. You will leave this show on a high that will last weeks. His last album Feed The Family was also nominated for the Saving Country Music Album of the Year in 2010.

Possessed by Paul James was nominated for Saving Country Music’s Album of the Year in 2010, but Hellbound Glory won it. Spectacular songwriting and a high energy show, this is the underground band that was so potent last year, they even got some attention from the mainstream. Leroy Virgil is an outright rising star. They are #1 on my personal “to see” list because I’ve never seen them live before. This is going to be fun!

Where do I even start with these guys, how do I describe them? I guess I could start off by pointing you to my review from last year’s SXSW, and after that just say that Slim Cessna’s Auto Club is a music experience all to itself. Country-ish, gothic-ish, it cannot be missed.

Here we go ladies and gentlemen! Bust out the bluegrass instruments and crank the volume and tempo to 10! Their latest release Palomino set my hair on fire the first time I heard it and I can’t wait to see them live for the first time. They are #2 on my personal list to see.

Other artists on my “Must See” list:

I just saw her recently opening for Justin Townes Earle, and wasn’t even wholeheartedly impressed. But something about Caitlin wildly intrigues me, her voice is sublime, her soul troubled, and I couldn’t live with passing up an opportunity to see her again. Hope to get an interview this time as well. She’ll be playing at the ninebullets.net showcase among other places.

Have been enjoying the catchy tunes from this Northwest band for years, and finally get a chance to see them live. Performances: 3/16 8pm VeVeeta Room (official sxsw). 3/17 Trophys Austin sxsw party (free) 5:30pm. 3/18 Austin Threadgills Burnside District Party 1:30pm. 3/19 KAOS RADIO 1pm.

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There’s many more where that came from, but these are my tops. And the best part about SXSW is discovering that band you’ve never heard of at at random showcase in a random bar.

I’m not much of a metal guy, never have been. Over the past few years I’ve really gotten into Assjack and really like it, and Hank III’s new sludge project Attention Deficit Domination has me intrigued, but Arson Anthem does little for me. It just seems disjointed. I would stop by if I thought that III would grant an interview, but doubt that will happen. I’ll go see it if I have nothing else to do, but chances are, when they’re playing, they’ll be 10 other bands I should be seeing instead. And Emo’s sucks. I’m tired of peeing in their urinal trough.

I would rather see Hank 3 than anything, but when it comes to metal Anselmo is the man. Not nearly as great as he would tell you, but still maybe the best when you take into account how incredible Pantera, Down, and Body and Blood were/are. I wouldn’t be surprised if Anselmo’s label “Housecore Records” doesn’t wind up releasing some of III’s solo projects, such as perhaps the A.D.D. album. Just guessing.

If he does then yeah, that would be silly. Just seemed like his Attention Deficit Domination project would fit right in with a band like Haarp which was just released by Housecore. And that label is supposed to be fairly diverse as well… I hadn’t heard that III was definitely goin’ his own way but if so then great. In this day-and-age and with his existing fan-base being as large as it is it makes more sense for him to do it himself.

OMG, Emo’s was probably the grossest venue I’ve ever been to. I saw Hank III play there the day before SXSW started last year. It’s huge and impersonal and despite my best efforts to stay away from the mosh pit I got dragged in. Luckily some kind soul saw me go down and dragged me out. I left that night reeking of stale beer. Apparently it’s okay to spray total strangers with your beverage there! Nice.

I’d like to mention Jim Stringer, T Jarrod Bonta, Roger Wallace, Phoebe Hunt (although the band she’s been playing with, the Belleville Outfit, has broken up, or is fixing to, but Phoebe is kick-ass awesome, I heard she’s going off on her own) and the Carper Family, Along with Ruby Jane they’re right at the top of my list for favorite Austin bands.

I hate you just a teeny bit right now Triggerman 🙁 Man I wish I could be there this year. Looking most forward to your updates. I’d also recommend JWW & The Prospectors who are a fantastic western swing band – one of my top three highlights from SXSW last year. The other two were Scott H Biram and The Hickoids.

JWW & The Prospectors are playing Wednesday 3/16 at Counter Culture at 6.45pm.

I’d also recommend stopping by The Driskill for a drink or to see some SXSW bands too. It’s a stunning historic hotel built in 1886 that has been meticulously restored. Very elegant and quite beautiful. Haunted too apparently!

Do it Manby! I flew over from NZ last year and it was all that and more. Austin is also a ridiculously cool city, I’d move there in a heartbeat. So much to do and see and the people are really lovely too. I enjoyed being there after SXSW as well and really being able to experience the city. At least your exchange rate isn’t as crappy as ours 🙂
V Australia do excellent flight deals from Aussie to Los Angeles. Be nice to Triggerman and he may let you share his mum’s basement for a few days.

Hey Carla, I sure would like to. How long did you spend over there? I’d like to try and tee up a trip for about 3 weeks and manage it so that I could see as many live acts as possible while there. Muddy Roots would be awesome! Pretty much the whole shebang at that festival.

I keep waiting for the Blues & Roots Festival to have some acts that would tempt me to go. It’d have to be a pretty amazing lineup for me to go down there. Fire twirling, mung bean eating hippies for four days could send me homicidal!

Did the quake affect you? I hope all is okay for you and yours over there!

I spent 8 days in Austin, I wish I could have stayed longer. The place has such a cool vibe and I was staying with two American friends who were absolute sweethearts and wonderful hosts. Oh, you’ll like this: one of them is obsessed with Kath & Keeeem! Triggerman was also fantastic and let me tag along with him to a few gigs which was fun.

That’s a great idea to spend a few weeks (I spent 5 weeks in the US and Canada – still paying off my credit card!) as it’s such an expensive long haul flight and you’ll be jetlagged for at least a day. The weirdest irony about going to SXSW was most of the bands that I saw that I loved were actually local Austin bands. Go figure.

After SXSW I stayed in West Hollywood and saw Hank III play at The Roxy, then flew to Vegas to go to Viva Las Vegas which is a massive rockabilly festival. Yeah nah, I wouldn’t recommend that at all, I didn’t enjoy it – total wankfest. Muddy Roots would be amazing.

I’m in Auckland so unaffected by the quake, thanks for asking. My friends and family down there are all okay but their homes are munted, completely destroyed. They don’t have jobs anymore and some are leaving Christchurch for good. Lots of people down there still don’t have power, fresh water and flushing toilets. It’s so sad, it’s the biggest natural disaster in NZ’s history, over 200 dead. It’s quite surreal to be witness to something like this. Your government has been amazing, 200 NSW police and hundreds of Aussie search and rescue specialists were on the ground in Christchurch within hours of it happening. Just marvellous, your guys saved many many lives. Oh I’m getting all teary just typing this. They did such a wonderful job and are still down there working very hard. Thank you for sending them over to us. On a lighter note Christchurch prostitutes are apparently being ‘run off their feet’ with all the rescue workers and contractors in town. Lordy!

Darn don’t I know it, am ONLY 20 hours from Austin, but Triggerman did a great job of providing a musical preview tour of the upcoming attractions. Can’t believe how much I was missing before landing here at SCM.

I’m close to that myself Kay! Why does Texas have to be so far away?!!! I feel the same way. I’m thankful too. If I hadn’t found SCM I might be listening to POP Country and thinking, “OH isnt’t that BROWN animal song soooo cute?! ”

“OH, that Taylor Swift gal is dynamite! I don’t care if she can’t hold a tune.”

Or even: “Trace Adkins is soooooo sexy I don’t care what comes out of his mouth.”

If you’re in Austin this Sunday, there’s a bunch of country, cowpunk, alt country,Americana, whatever bands playing at Headhunters on Red River (at 8th Street). Doors at 5 (I think); shows begin at 6:15. Here’s the latest list from their Website:

Excellent list. 2, 3, and 4 are on my top must-sees as well. #5 not so much because I just saw them (amazing show, but there’s so much else to hear…). And now I’ve added Ruby Jane. Thanks! A couple of my other musts include American Aquarium, American Graveyard, Maxim Ludwig & The Santa Fe Seven, & Caleb Coy…

Definitely agree with your #1 pick. It so good to see others as passionate about Ruby as I am. Tis bold to say she is the #1 entertainer on planet earth but having lived here 73 years I have never gone to any artist’s show more than twice. I’ve seen Ruby 12 times in the last 18 months and unbelievably each show is better than the last

Ruby Jane’s show at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas Sunday (not a SXSW show) was broadcast by Trigger Man on his SCM Link, one person who was listening in San Antonio (50 miles away, he had never heard Ruby in person) was so impressed he decided to drive to Gruene Hall to catch the last hour or so of the show in person. And that ain’t no Urban Legend, his name is Rey, he posted a link about it on Ruby’s and TM’s Facebook.